Cougars Connolly Invited to National Junior Team Selection Camp, Marincin Named to Team Slovakia
Published on November 29, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
PRINCE GEORGE, BC - The Prince George Cougars are pleased to announce 18 year old Captain Brett Connolly has been invited to Team Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp in Toronto, Ontario. The selection camp will run from December 12 - 15 at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto, which will determine Team Canada for the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo, New York. The Cougars are also proud to announce 18 year old defenceman Martin Marincin will play for Team Slovakia at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, which runs December 26 - January 5, 2011.
Connolly, in his third season with his hometown Cougars, leads the team in scoring with 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points. Connolly's 20 goals are third most in the Western Hockey League and Connolly is tied for 13th overall in the WHL in points. Connolly is the 2009 CHL Rookie of the Year and was selected sixth overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in June. Connolly is one of 17 players from the WHL and 39 overall to be invited to Hockey Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp. Connolly will leave for Toronto on December 11. Connolly has previous international experience at the 2009 and 2010 World Under 18 Championships, the 2009 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament and the 2009 World Under 17 Challenge.
"It feels really great to be invited and I wanted to work as hard as I could to get to the main selection camp and I've done that," said Connolly, currently on a five game point streak, with five goals and three assists over that span. "It was definitely exciting to hear the news."
The Cougars selected Marincin first overall in the 2010 CHL Import Draft. Marincin is second in Cougars scoring with nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points, with a team leading 19 power play points. Marincin's 30 points and 21 assists are tops among all WHL defencemen. Marincin is second among WHL rookies in points. Marincin represented Slovakia at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan. Marincin heads for Buffalo on December 16.
"The Prince George Cougars are very proud of Brett and Martin for being recognized by the Canadian and Slovakian hockey organizations," said Cougars General Manager Dallas Thompson. "We wish the two of them luck and hope they have a great time in Ontario and Buffalo."
The Cougars also wish best of luck to forward Troy Bourke, defenceman Josh Smith and goalie Devon Fordyce, who will represent Team Pacific at the World Under 17 Challenge in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, MB, from December 28 to January 4, 2011.
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